Stethoscope protective device

ABSTRACT

A stethoscope protective device is for easily and hygienically covering the head and at least a portion of the connector tube of a stethoscope. The device can be quickly applied to the stethoscope while eliminating or minimizing the need for contact by a patient of the head and connector tube during examination. In a single-handed operation, the stethoscope head and connector tube can be readily slipped into and secured within the protective device. The device is constructed at least in part of a material that is acoustically transmissive and provides a barrier for reducing the transmission of microorganisms.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.60/766,672, filed Feb. 3, 2006, which such application is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This relates to a device for inhibiting the transmission ofmicroorganisms. In particular, this relates to a stethoscope cover thatreduces the risk of stethoscope contamination by transmittingbiohazards, including infectious microorganisms.

BACKGROUND

Disease-causing microorganisms are ubiquitous in healthcareenvironments. These locations include hospitals, outpatient clinics,ambulatory surgical centers, nursing homes, doctors' offices, etc. Inthese locations pathogenic microorganisms are frequently found onpatients' skin and clothing as well as on other surfaces including beds,linens, and diagnostic and therapeutic medical equipment.

Stethoscopes are medical equipment that are known to transmit pathogenicagents from patient to patient. Unless a health care provider sterilizesthe stethoscope between each examination, a subsequent patient canbecome contaminated with microorganisms that may have been present on aprior patient. However, it is believed that the great majority of healthcare providers do not clean or sanitize their stethoscopes betweenexaminations of different patients. Therefore many stethoscopes can endup transmitting numerous types of often-harmful microorganisms betweenpatients.

To address this problem, there are known devices for coveringstethoscopes in an effort to provide barrier protection. However theseknown designs have significant drawbacks. For example some designs onlycover the head of the stethoscope, and therefore the rest of it remainsexposed to possible contamination. Other designs cover a larger portionof the stethoscope, but are awkward for the user to work with (includingin some instances, the requirement for a two-handed operation), oralternatively are relatively complex and expensive in theirconstruction. This latter disadvantage can be due to a complex shape ofthe cover which increases manufacturing costs or due to the need forseparate, relatively expensive components for use with the cover. Yetother known designs employ adhesives to attach protective covers tostethoscope heads. This can result in the head becoming fouled withadhesive residue thus exacerbating the transmission problem, as this cancause the stethoscopes to retain and thereby transmit an even greaternumber of microorganisms.

While known devices are directed to the same general problem addressedin this disclosure, there remains a need for an inexpensive, effectiveand easily-operated means for inhibiting the transmission ofmicroorganisms via stethoscopes. It does not appear that there has beena general acceptance by health care providers of any of the knowndevices. It is believed that this lack of acceptance is largely due tothe relative high expense, the lack of effectiveness or theimpracticality of operation of the devices.

Thus there exists a need for improved methods and devices for inhibitingthe transmission of microorganisms via stethoscopes, having a low costand a simple, fast operation.

SUMMARY OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

A disposable stethoscope protective device is provided that has a sleeveand a clasp connected to the sleeve. When applied over the head andconnector tube of a stethoscope, the sleeve acts as a barrier tomicroorganisms, yet permits acoustic waves to transmit through thesleeve so that the stethoscope may be used in an examination. Whenapplied before stethoscope use and discarded immediately thereafter, thedevice inhibits the transmission of potentially disease-causingmicroorganisms from patient to patient.

In one aspect, the device comprises an elongated sleeve defining aninterior volume and having a closed first sleeve end and an openedsecond sleeve end defining a mouth. The sleeve is constructed of amaterial that is acoustically transmissive and generally impermeable tomicroorganisms and fluids. A clasp is fixedly attached to substantiallyall of the perimeter of the mouth of the second sleeve end. The clasp isconfigured to hold the second sleeve end mouth in a closed position whenno external compressive force is applied to the clasp and to open thesecond sleeve end mouth when an external compressive force is applied tothe clasp.

In another aspect, the stethoscope head has a head vertical length andthe stethoscope connector tube has a connector tube length. Theelongated sleeve has a sleeve length that falls between a first distanceand a second distance, wherein the first distance is about equal to thesum of the head vertical length plus about one half of the connectortube length, and the second distance is about equal to the sum of thehead vertical length plus the connector tube length.

In yet another aspect, the stethoscope connector tube has a connectortube cross-sectional thickness. The clasp comprises a resilient memberformed into a generally closed-loop configuration and of sufficient sizeto approximately encircle the perimeter of the mouth of the secondsleeve end. The clasp further comprises a first clasp side, a secondclasp side, a first clasp end connecting the first and second claspsides, and a second clasp end connecting the first and second claspsides. When no external compressive force is applied to the first andsecond clasp ends, each of the first and second clasp sides has agenerally elongated shape, and they either abut one another or arespaced apart by a first distance that is less than the connector tubecross-sectional thickness. However when an external compressive force isapplied to the first and second clasp ends, each of the first and secondclasp sides has a generally arcuate shape and at least a portion of thefirst and second clasp sides are spaced apart by a second distance thatis greater than the connector tube cross-sectional thickness.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a method for inhibitingthe transmission of microorganisms is disclosed. An external compressiveforce is applied to first and second clasp ends of a clasp that isfixedly attached to an elongated sleeve. The clasp comprises a firstclasp side and a second clasp side, wherein the first clasp end connectsthe first and second clasp sides and the second clasp end connects thefirst and second clasp sides. A head of a stethoscope and at least aportion of a connector tube of the stethoscope are inserted into theelongated sleeve while the external compressive force is being appliedto the first and second clasp ends. The external compressive force isreleased from the first and second clasp ends after the stethoscope headand the at least a portion of the connector tube are inserted into theelongated sleeve.

There are additional aspects to the present inventions. It shouldtherefore be understood that the preceding is merely a brief summary ofsome embodiments and aspects of the present inventions. Additionalembodiments and aspects are referenced below. It should further beunderstood that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can bemade without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thepreceding summary therefore is not meant to limit the scope of theinventions. Rather, the scope of the inventions is to be determined byappended claims and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of certain embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a stethoscope inserted into a stethoscopeprotective device;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the sleeve of the protectivedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded parts view of a clasp and a portion of the sleeveof the protective device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the clasp and a portion of the sleeve ofthe protective device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the clasp and the sleeve as shownalong lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the clasp of FIG. 1 in the closed position;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the clasp of FIG. 1 in the open position;and

FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of a clasp for a stethoscopeprotective device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated forcarrying out the invention. Reference will be made in detail toembodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike elements throughout. It is understood that other embodiments may beused and structural and operational changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

The stethoscope protective devices disclosed herein are for easily andhygienically covering the heads and at least a portion of the connectortubes of stethoscopes. The devices can be quickly applied to thestethoscopes while eliminating or minimizing the need for contact by apatient of the heads and connector tubes during examination. In asingle-handed operation the stethoscope head and connector tube can bereadily slipped into and secured within the protective device which ismade possible through the unique design of the devices themselves.

The devices comprise a material that is acoustically transmissive andprovides a barrier for reducing the transmission of microorganisms.Preferrably, the barrier reduces or eliminates the transmission of dirt,fluids, oils, etc., all of which may carry pathogenic microorganisms.The devices are designed for easy attachment to and removal from thestethoscopes so that this can be easily accomplished in a quick,single-handed operation.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a stethoscope 102 that is partiallyinserted into a protective device 100 that is used for inhibiting thetransmission of microorganisms via barrier protection. The stethoscope102 has a head 104 (sometimes referred to in the art as a stethoscopebell), a connector tube 106 extending from the head 104, and two eartubes 108 extending from the connector tube 106. The stethoscope head104 has a head vertical length. As used herein, the head vertical lengthrefers to the external dimension of a stethoscope head as measured inthe direction of an imaginary line extending from the length of theconnector tube when the connector tube is extended downwardly as shownin FIG. 1, i.e., when worn by a user but not in use by him/her for anexamination. For example, for stethoscope heads having a generallycircular shape such as the head of FIG. 1, the head vertical lengthwould be the same as the head diameter D1 as shown in FIG. 1. Howeverfor example, for stethoscope heads having a generally elliptical shapewith the major axis of the ellipse oriented vertically when thestethoscope is being worn, then the head vertical length wouldcorrespond to the length of the major axis of the ellipse.

The connector tube 106 has a connector tube length L1 and a connectortube cross-sectional thickness. As used herein, connector tubecross-sectional thickness refers to the distance by which a connectortube extends outwardly from the body or clothing of a user when theconnector tube is extended downwardly as shown in FIG. 1, i.e., whenworn by a user, but not in use by him/her for an examination. Forexample, for a connector tube having a generally circular cross-section,like the connector tube shown in FIG. 1, the connector tubecross-sectional thickness corresponds to the outer diameter of the tube.As another example, for connector tubes having an exterior profile thatgenerally appears to be two tubes disposed in abutment to one another,the connector tube cross-sectional thickness would correspond to theouter diameter of one of the two tubes.

The protective device 100 comprises an elongated sleeve 110 and a clasp112. Referring to FIG. 2, the sleeve 110 defines an interior volume 118and has a closed first sleeve end 114 and an opened second sleeve end116 defining a mouth 120 having a perimeter 122 and leading into theinterior volume 118. The sleeve 110 provides a means for isolating aportion of the stethoscope 102 from microorganisms and is constructed ofa material that is acoustically transmissive and generally impermeableto microorganisms and fluids. Such materials may include for examplepolyethylene or other thermoplastics, acetate, paper or cloth. In theillustrated embodiment, the sleeve 110 has an inner sleeve surface 124,an outer sleeve surface 126 and a thickness of about 0.002 inches.However other embodiments may employ other thicknesses as well so longas the material is acoustically transmissive and generally impermeableto microorganisms and fluids.

The sleeve 110 has a length L2 that is about equal to the sum of thehead vertical length plus the connector tube length L1 so that thesleeve 110 can enclose the lower portion of the stethoscope 102 up toabout the location where the ear tubes 108 connect with the connectortube 106. In other embodiments, however, the sleeve length can beshorter so that it at least covers the head 104 plus approximately thelower one half of the connector tube length L1. Thus in variousembodiments of the invention, the sleeve length can vary and fallbetween a first distance corresponding to the sum of the head verticallength plus about one half of the connector tube length L1, and a seconddistance corresponding to the sum of the head vertical length plus aboutthe connector tube length L1. In alternative embodiments, the sleevelength falls between about 10 inches and about 22 inches with apreferred embodiment having a sleeve length of about 18 inches. Suchdimensions are likely to be suitable for both adult and pediatricstethoscopes and able to enclose these stethoscope heads and at leastone half of these stethoscope connector tubes.

Although the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 show a sleeve 110 having agenerally rectangular shape, alternative embodiments can include othershapes, such as a square, tubular, trapezoidal, etc. The first sleeveend can be longer or shorter than the second sleeve end. The sides ofthe sleeve can have a concave shape, a convex shape or be straight orcurved in other fashions.

The clasp 112 provides a means for removably securing the sleeve 110 tothe stethoscope 102 during patient examination or other uses. The clasp112 is comprised of a resilient member formed into a generallyclosed-loop configuration. The clasp 112 therefore permits the sleeve110 to be removably secured to the stethoscope 102 during its use with apatient and also be readily removed from the stethoscope 102 at a laterpoint in time. Referring to FIG. 6, the clasp 112 has a first clasp side128, a second clasp side 130, a first clasp end 132 connecting one endof each of the first and second clasp sides 128, 130, and a second claspend 134 connecting the opposite end of each of the first and secondclasp sides 128, 130.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the clasp 112 has an upper portion136 having a first cross-sectional thickness D3 and a lower portion 138having a second cross-sectional thickness D4 that is less than the firstcross-sectional thickness D3. The overall clasp 112 is of sufficientsize to approximately encircle the perimeter 122 of the mouth 120 of thesecond sleeve end 116, so that the clasp lower portion 138 is fixedlyattached to substantially the entire perimeter 122 of the second sleeveend mouth 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the clasp lower portion138 is attached to the inner sleeve surface 124 of the sleeve 110.However other embodiments may include other attachment methods andlocations.

When in the closed position with no external compressive force appliedto the clasp 112 as shown in FIG. 6, each of the first and second claspsides 128, 130 has a generally elongated shape and abuts one another.Alternatively, each clasp side can be spaced apart by a relatively smalldistance that is less than the stethoscope connector tubecross-sectional thickness. Either way, the clasp 112 is constructed togrip the stethoscope connector tube 106 when the stethoscope 102 isinserted into the sleeve 110 and no external compressive force isapplied to the clasp 112.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the user desires to open the clasp 112, thefirst and second clasp ends 132, 134 are squeezed together thusproviding an external compressive force F that causes each of the firstand second clasp sides 128, 130 to bend apart and form a generallyarcuate shape thus opening the sleeve mouth 120. (FIG. 2) The first andsecond clasp sides 128, 130 are spaced apart by a distance that isgreater than the connector tube cross-sectional thickness and thestethoscope head thickness for convenient insertion or removal of thestethoscope 102 into or from the sleeve 110. When the externalcompressive force F is removed, the first and second clasp sides 128,130 come back together due to the resilient nature of the material fromwhich the clasp 112 is constructed. Thus the clasp 112 will return toits closed position as shown in FIG. 6 if no stethoscope has beeninserted. Alternatively if a stethoscope has been inserted, thematerial's resiliency will cause the first and second clasp sides 128,130 to return to a nearly-closed position that will allow them to gripthe stethoscope connector tube thus holding the sleeve in place.

In the illustrated embodiment, the clasp 112 has an overall length D6 ofabout 4.25 inches and an overall height D5 of about 0.5 inches. Theclasp 112 is constructed of polypropylene, with the firstcross-sectional thickness D3 being about 0.06 inches, and the secondcross-sectional thickness D4 being about 0.03 inches. However otherembodiments may be constructed of other resilient materials, such as forexample, metals, metal alloys, thermoplastics, thermoplastic elastomers,rubber, cardboard, etc., and may have other cross-sectional profiles,including a uniform profile or profiles of different geometries andthicknesses. In yet other embodiments, the clasp may comprise otherclosure mechanisms including, for example, snaps, zip locks,Velcro®-type fasteners, and adhesive substances.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a clasp 802 for attaching to asleeve. This clasp 802 is essentially the same as the clasp 112 of FIGS.1, 3-7, includes a first clasp side 804, a second clasp side 806, afirst clasp end 808 and a second clasp end 810, and operates ingenerally the same manner. However in this embodiment each of the firstand second clasp sides 804, 806 has a plurality of projections 812extending inwardly and disposed in a mating relationship with oneanother when the clasp 802 is in the closed position s shown in FIG. 8.The projections 812 serve to enhance the grip of the clasp 802 on astethoscope connector tube.

In use, a doctor or other health care provider having a stethoscopehanging from his/her neck grasps a clasp portion of a protective devicewith one hand and removes the device from a dispenser, box or othercontainer having a plurality of such protective devices. Using the thumband index finger of just one hand, a compressive force is applied toboth ends of the clasp thereby opening the mouth of the protectivedevice for a distance sufficient to allow insertion of the stethoscopehead. The stethoscope head is inserted into the sleeve portion of theprotective device along with at least a portion of the stethoscopeconnector tube while the compressive force is being applied to claspends.

Once the stethoscope head and connector tube are inserted in the sleeve,so that the head is at or near the closed end of the sleeve, thecompressive force is released from the clasp ends thereby closing themouth of the protective device and freeing the hand of the health careprovider. The resiliency of the material from which the clasp is formedwill cause it to grip the connector tube while the stethoscope is inuse. This in turn will hold the sleeve in place so that it will form abarrier that is generally impermeable to microorganisms and fluids.Nevertheless, the sleeve is constructed of a material that also isacoustically transmissive thus permitting the health care provider touse the stethoscope for patient examination while inhibiting thetransmission of microorganisms from the patient to the stethoscope andvice versa.

Once the examination is concluded, the steps described above areessentially reversed so that the stethoscope can be easily and quicklyextracted from the protective device in a single-handed operation, andthen the protective device can be discarded.

In view of the above, it will be appreciated that embodiments of theinvention overcome many of the long-standing problems in the art byproviding a stethoscope protective device for easily and hygienicallycovering the heads and at least a portion of the connector tubes ofstethoscopes. The device can be quickly applied to the stethoscope whileeliminating or minimizing the need for contact by a patient of the headand connector tube during examination. In a single-handed operation, thestethoscope head and connector tube can be readily slipped into andsecured within the protective device. The device is constructed in partof a material that is acoustically transmissive and provides a barrierfor reducing the transmission of microorganisms.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be understood that many modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof. The claims are intendedto cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope andspirit of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments aretherefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claimsrather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come withinthe meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are thereforeintended to be embraced therein.

1. A cover for a stethoscope having a generally annular head, a pair ofear tubes, and a central tube interconnecting the ear tubes and the headtherebelow, the cover comprising: an elongated sleeve of polymericmaterial having a thin sheet construction and being acousticallytransmissive and generally impermeable to microorganisms; a closedbottom portion including a bottom side edge of the sleeve; an uppermouth opening of the sleeve; a single piece upper clasp member ofresilient material fixed to the sleeve so that the single piece claspmember extends about the upper mouth opening thereof with the elongatedthin sheet sleeve extending loosely downward therefrom; opposite,parallel lateral side edges of the sleeve having upper ends at the uppermouth opening and lower ends at the bottom side edge with the lateralside edges extending parallel to each other down from the upper ends tothe lower ends thereof with the bottom side edge extending in asubstantially straight line therebetween, the lateral side edges havinga lateral spacing therebetween that is larger than a lateral dimensionacross the stethoscope head; and gripping side portions of the singlepiece upper clasp member extending between the upper ends of the sleeveside edges and configured to allow a user to use one-hand to resilientlyshift the side portions away from each other for enlarging the uppermouth opening sufficiently to permit the stethoscope head and centraltube to be inserted through the mouth opening and down into theelongated sleeve between the opposite, parallel lateral side edgesthereof with the head positioned adjacent to the straight bottom sideedge and to allow the user with the same hand to release the sideportions so that the side portions resiliently shift back toward eachother to grip onto the ear tubes or central tube to keep the sleeve onthe stethoscope in a hands-free assembly thereon.
 2. The cover of claim1 wherein the bottom side edge extends continuously without interruptionbetween opposite lateral side edges so that the sleeve bottom portion iscompletely closed and the stethoscope head cannot be inserted in thesleeve and beyond the bottom side edge to be exposed out from thesleeve.
 3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the upper clasp member hasopposite loop engagement end portions interconnecting the gripping sideportions at either end thereof with the loop engagement end portionseach having a loop configuration so that the engagement end portionseach have opposing sections that generally remain spaced from each otherirrespective of whether the side portions are resiliently shifted openor closed.
 4. The cover of claim 1 in combination with the stethoscopewherein with the sleeve on the stethoscope in the hands-free assembly,the gripping side portions grip on the connecting tube in a nearlyclosed configuration thereof leaving exposed gaps between the grippingside portions where the side portions are adjacent to but not ingripping engagement with the ear tubes or connecting tube.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein the generally annular head of thestethoscope has one of a generally circular shape and a generallyelliptical shape.
 6. The cover of claim 1 wherein the elongated sleevehas a predetermined length along the side edges between the upper endsand bottom side edge and a predetermined width between the opposite sideedges with the predetermined length being at least twice as long as thepredetermined width.
 7. The cover of claim 1 wherein the thin sheetsleeve has a thickness of approximately 0.002 inch.
 8. In combination, acover and a stethoscope, the combination comprising: a pair of ear tubesof the stethoscope; a lower head of the stethoscope; a connector tubeextending down from the ear tubes to the lower head; an elongated sleeveof the cover having an upper mouth opening and a closed bottom; aresilient clasp at the upper mouth opening that is of unitaryconstruction and is operable with one hand to shift the mouth openingbetween open and closed positions; and opposite, thin sheet side wallsof the sleeve extending between the upper mouth opening and the closedbottom with the side walls being configured and sized so that with theconnector tube and lower head inserted in the sleeve and the clasp inthe closed position clamped on the connector tube, the thin sheet sidewalls hang down from the clasp to extend down along the connector tubeand down beyond the head to the closed bottom of the sleeve.
 9. A methodof covering a stethoscope to protect the stethoscope frommicroorganisms, the method comprising: holding the stethoscope with onehand and a cover sleeve with the other hand; resiliently shiftingopposite ends of a unitary resilient clasp member of the cover sleevetoward each other via compressive force exerted on the ends by fingersof the other hand to open an upper mouth opening of the cover sleeve;inserting a bottom head of the stethoscope and a tubular portion of thestethoscope extending upward from the bottom head through the open uppermouth opening into the cover sleeve; and removing the compressive forceon the unitary clasp member ends to cause opposite portions of theunitary clasp member to grip on the stethoscope tubular portion so thatthe cover sleeve is held on the stethoscope exclusively at the portionsof the unitary clasp member in gripping engagement with the stethoscopetubular portion.